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The aim of current study is to formulate, optimize and characterize the developed formulation of Mesalamine-Curcumin Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (Mes-Cur NLCs).It was formulated using high pressure homogenization followed by probe sonication and formulation variables were optimized using Central Composite Design. The particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency (EE), drug release, cytotoxicity on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts cells and HaCaT keratinocytes cells and efficacy on RAW264.7 cells for optimized formulation was determined.The PS, ZP and EE were found to be 85.26 nm, -23.7 ± 7.45 mV, 99.2 ± 2.62 % (Mes) and 84 ± 1.51 % (Cur), respectively. The good correlation between predicted and obtained value indicated suitability and reproducibility of experimental design. NLCs showed spherical shape as confirmed by TEM. In vitro drug release profile of prepared formulation showed that Mes exhibited 100 % release at 48 h, whereas Cur exhibited 82.23 ± 2.97% release at 120 h. Both the drugs exhibited sustained release upon incorporation into the NLCs. The absence of any significant cell death during MTT assay performed on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts cells and HaCaT keratinocytes cells indicated that NLCs' were safe for use. Furthermore, significant reduction in nitric oxide level during anti-inflammatory evaluation of formulation on RAW264.7 cells showed excellent potential for the formulation to treat inflammation. The formulation was found stable as no significant difference between the PS, ZP and EE of the fresh and aged NLCs was observed.The outcomes of study deciphered successful formulation of Mes-Cur NLCs.

Objective: Synedrella nodiflora is traditionally used in the treatment of several ailments. Pharmacologically, this plant has anticonvulsant, sedative, anti-nociceptive and anti-proliferative effects. This study further investigated S. nodiflora for its antioxidant and in vitro inhibition of cancerous cell lines. Methods: Phytochemical assays, and the DPPH radical scavenging method were employed in preliminary screening for antioxidant activities of the crude hydro-ethanolic extract (SNE) and resulting fractions. The potent ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), was further investigated for total phenol and flavonoid contents, reducing power, lipid peroxidation potential, and cytotoxic effects on human breast cancer (MCF-7), leukemic (Jurkat), and normal liver (Chang’s liver) cell lines. Results: The extract contained phenols, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, sterols, terpenoids, and alkaloids. It scavenged for DPPH with an IC50 of 114 µg/ml, whereas that of EAF was 8.9 µg/ml. EAF prevented peroxidation of egg lecithin at an IC50 of 24.01±0.08 µg/ml. These IC50s are four and three times lower than the reference standards. EAF produced anti-proliferative effects against MCF-7, and Jurkat cell lines with IC50s of 205.2 and 170.9 µg/ml, respectively. EAF had a high IC50 of 252.2 µg/ml against Chang’s liver cells. At 0.1 mg/ml EAF had similar total flavonoid content to SNE, but a significantly higher total phenol content. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of S. nodiflora, exhibited the most potent antioxidant activity. It inhibited the proliferation of breast and leukemic cancer cell lines, whiles having weak cytotoxic effect on normal liver cells. These can be explored for further drug development.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily characterized by inflammation and reversible bronchoconstriction. It is currently one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Oxidative stress further complicates the pathology of the disease. The current treatment strategies for asthma mainly involve the use of anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators. However, long-term usage of such medications is associated with severe adverse effects and complications. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop newer, novel, and safe treatment modalities for the management of asthma. This has therefore prompted further investigations and detailed research to identify and develop novel therapeutic interventions from potent untapped resources. This review focuses on the significance of oxidative stressors that are primarily derived from both mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial sources in initiating the clinical features of asthma. The review also discusses the biological scavenging system of the body and factors that may lead to its malfunction which could result in altered states. Furthermore, the review provides a detailed insight into the therapeutic role of nutraceuticals as an effective strategy to attenuate the deleterious effects of oxidative stress and may be used in the mitigation of the cardinal features of bronchial asthma.

Recent epidemiological studies suggest that postprandial hyperglycemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A human’s high carbohydrate diet majorly consists of a high carbohydrate diet and α-glucosidase is a glucosidase located in the brush border of the small intestine is involved in glycosidic cleavage of starch at α-glycosidic bonds. α-glucosidase inhibitors are a unique class of anti-diabetic drugs particularly useful in individuals with a high carbohydrate diet. α-glucosidase inhibitors works by competitively inhibiting the enzyme α-glucosidase at the brush border of the small intestines, thus delaying the digestion of complex carbohydrate and intestinal absorption of glucose. Hence, in the present study, the α-glucosidase inhibition activity of butyl isobutyl phthalate isolated from chloroform fraction of Rubus steudneri leaves investigated and its possible mechanism of action ascertained in silico. The compound was found to exhibit concentration-dependent inhibition of α-glucosidase with half-maximal inhibitory concentration value of 10.68 g/ml. The results of in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition assay for butyl isobutyl phthalate were promising and substantiated by molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies.

The current challenging aspect of herbal medicine or traditional system is maintenance of quality, safety and efficacy issues. As there is a global recognition for the herbal drugs as an healing aids, the demand for these traditional system have been increased drastically from 19th century to 21st century. As the main challenge of this herbal medicine / drugs is maintenance of DNA finger printing, phytochemical and therapeutic uniformity, lack of Good clinical practices, standard operating protocols, no proper protocols or guidelines on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic issues , no standardisation protocols, no control on residual limits (Pesticide residues, Microbe residues, heavy metal residues, solvent residues and teratogenicity). In order to meet this challenges the regulatory agencies EMEA, ICH AYUSH, WHO, USFDA trying to bring these herbal therapies/drugs under regulatory pipeline under the NDA approval process. In order to meet these current challenges, the Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeiahas published 40monographsmonitored by IndianDrugs Manufacturers Association (IDMA). The current review focuses on the current trends in herbal drug safety monitoring and regulatory aspects of Herbal therapeutics. Keywords: Herbal medicines, Therapeutic uniformity, Standardisation, Regulatory challenges.

Generally, weeds are considered as nuisances in the garden and enemies to the farmer, as there is a misconception that they are useless. Many of the herbs used in Indian traditional medicine and tribal medicine are considered weeds by agriculturists and field botanists (for example, Phyllanthus amarus L., Eclipta alba L.,Centella asiatica (L.) etc.). Even though many of these weeds have high ethnopharmacological importance, they are being destroyed and there is a lack of scientific knowledge and guidance. In the Nilgiris many medicinally valuable weeds like Achyranthes bidentata Blume., Artemisia nilagirica Clarke., Centella asiaticaL., are very prominent having good therapeutic values like diuretic, antimalarial and brain tonic. The main aim of this review is to expose the important pharmacodynamic and ethnomedicinal values of 50 prominent weeds belongs to 26 different families that grow wild in the Nilgiris. It is possible that some of these weeds could provide an additional income to farmers. There is increasing evidence to support that weeds are relatively high in bioactive molecules thus very important for new drug discovery. Innovative research should be encouraged and scientific workshops conducted by government bodies to communicate the medicinal value of weeds, make weeds economically important and to fill the gap between weeds, farmers and the economy. Key words: Weeds, pharmacological importance, pharmacodynamic uses, Silybum marianum L., Artemisia parviflora Roxb.